White Lies Read online

  White Lies

  One of Library Journal’s

  Best Romances of the Year

  The bestselling author of All Night Long and Falling Awake takes us beyond the everyday boundaries of the mind—and the heart—in a compulsively readable new novel of power, deception and danger.

  Level-ten parasensitive Clare Lancaster has resigned herself to the fact that she may never find a suitable mate. A human lie detector, any falsehood—no matter how subtle—sets her blood racing. And most people, to one degree or another, hide behind a façade.

  Including her father’s new business “consultant,” Jake Salter. His careful conversation walks a delicate line between truth and deception. But it is with his help that Clare begins to unravel a web of conspiracy and murder involving the powerful Arizona family that she just became a part of. Caught in a dizzying storm of secrets, lies and half-truths, Clare and Jake will plunge into an investigation that demands every bit of their special gifts, as something more than mere attraction sparks between them…

  TURN TO THE BACK OF THE BOOK FOR

  A SPECIAL PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING NOVELS

  Sizzle and Burn

  BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

  AND

  The Third Circle

  BY AMANDA QUICK

  Praise for the novels of New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz…

  “Whether the plots are contemporary, historical or futuristic, Krentz delivers the punch her readers are looking for, with imaginative story lines, strong characters, intriguing plot twists and plenty of hot romantic chemistry.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Krentz adds an intriguing paranormal twist to her already irresistible, deliciously dry humor.”

  —Chicago Tribune

  “Krentz delivers another evocative romance… [a] densely plotted Krentz confection.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “This lively romance with a paranormal touch has the potential to appeal to Krentz’s fans across the board… Compelling and well done.”

  —Library Journal

  “A seductive, sharply witty, paranormal-flavored thriller in which she deftly infuses an expertly crafted plot with sizzling sexual chemistry between two intriguing protagonists to create another of her supremely addictive tales of romantic suspense.”

  —Booklist

  All Night Long

  “In her signature sharp and witty fashion, Jayne Ann Krentz mixes desire and danger to create a riveting novel of romantic suspense.”

  —Chicago Tribune

  “A master of romantic mystery and suspense novels.”

  —The Columbus Dispatch

  “Krentz is in top form here.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Superb romantic mystery.”

  —The Oakland Press

  Falling Awake

  “Will surely keep the sandman at bay… Terrific.”

  —The Roanoke (VA) Times

  “Romantic tension sizzles… Tightly plotted… fully developed characters and crafty plot twists.”

  —The Philadelphia Inquirer

  “Yet another winning tale of romantic suspense… As always, Krentz creates an intelligent, likable couple, wonderful secondary characters and a fast-paced story that will keep readers turning the pages.”

  —Library Journal

  Truth or Dare

  “Compelling.”

  —The Sunday Age (Melbourne, Australia)

  “There’s a reason Jayne Ann Krentz sells so many books… [She] continues to exhibit a fine knack for entertaining her readers.”

  —Fort Worth Star-Telegram

  “Ranks with some of Krentz’s most entertaining work.”

  —The Seattle Times

  Light in Shadow

  “If Krentz’s newest thriller doesn’t send your pulse racing, dial your cardiologist’s number… Packed with twists and shockers till the explosive ending.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “One of Krentz’s best.”

  —The Seattle Times

  Smoke in Mirrors

  “Hearts will flutter. Spines will tingle.”

  —People

  “Passion smolders… Krentz is a master… The characters are the heart of the book and the reason why she has sold more than twenty-three million copies of her novels. This is vintage Krentz.”

  —The Seattle Times

  “Quick and witty and the romance sizzles. Smoke in Mirrors reads fast and will make you smile, wince and sigh. What else could you want?”

  —The (Columbia, SC) State

  Lost & Found

  “Delightful.”

  —People

  “A compelling mystery laced with an equally compelling romance.”

  —The Newark Star-Ledger

  Soft Focus

  “A healthy dose of suspense… Krentz has so much fun sending up the noir genre that you won’t mind going along for the ride.”

  —People

  “What could be more perfectly Krentz?… [Her] writing is clean and breezy, with many laugh-aloud chapter endings and a satisfyingly feel-good conclusion.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz

  SIZZLE AND BURN FLASH

  WHITE LIES SHARP EDGES

  ALL NIGHT LONG DEEP WATERS

  FALLING AWAKE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY

  TRUTH OR DARE TRUST ME

  LIGHT IN SHADOW GRAND PASSION

  SUMMER IN ECLIPSE BAY HIDDEN TALENTS

  TOGETHER IN ECLIPSE BAY WILDEST HEARTS

  SMOKE IN MIRRORS FAMILY MAN

  LOST & FOUND PERFECT PARTNERS

  DAWN IN ECLIPSE BAY SWEET FORTUNE

  SOFT FOCUS SILVER LININGS

  ECLIPSE BAY THE GOLDEN CHANCE

  EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick

  THE RIVER KNOWS MISCHIEF

  SECOND SIGHT MYSTIQUE

  LIE BY MOONLIGHT MISTRESS

  THE PAID COMPANION DECEPTION

  WAIT UNTIL MIDNIGHT DESIRE

  LATE FOR THE WEDDING DANGEROUS

  DON’T LOOK BACK RECKLESS

  SLIGHTLY SHADY RAVISHED

  WICKED WIDOW RENDEZVOUS

  I THEE WED SCANDAL

  WITH THIS RING SURRENDER

  AFFAIR SEDUCTION

  Titles by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle

  SILVER MASTER AFTER DARK

  GHOST HUNTER AMARYLLIS

  AFTER GLOW ZINNIA

  HARMONY ORCHID

  Anthologies

  CHARMED

  (with Julie Beard, Lori Foster, and Eileen Wilks)

  Titles written by Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle

  NO GOING BACK

  JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

  JOVE BOOKS, NEW YORK

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada

  (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)

  Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

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  Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 21
96, South Africa

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  WHITE LIES

  A Jove Book / published by arrangement with the author

  PRINTING HISTORY

  G. P. Putnam’s Sons hardcover edition / January 2007

  Jove premium edition / February 2008

  Copyright © 2007 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Excerpt from Sizzle and Burn copyright © 2007 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Excerpt from The Third Circle by Amanda Quick copyright © 2008 by Jayne Ann Krentz.

  Cover photograph of Couple copyright © Tom King/Getty Images;

  cover photograph of Pool copyright © Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.

  Cover design by Rob Wood/Wood Ronsaville Harlin, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-1-101-21514-2

  JOVE®

  Jove Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  JOVE is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  The “J” design is a trademark belonging to Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  For Suzanne Simmons,

  with thanks for an extraordinary

  and enduring friendship.

  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,

  you are not only a fantastic writer,

  you are one of the sisters I never had.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Chapter Forty-six

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-one

  Chapter Fifty-two

  Sizzle and Burn

  The Third Circle

  Prologue

  Eight months earlier…

  Clare Lancaster sat in the café of a large bookstore in Phoenix, Arizona, waiting for the half sister she had never met. A chaotic mix of anticipation, anxiety, longing and uncertainty churned her insides to such an extent that she could not drink the green tea she had ordered.

  Even if she had not seen photographs and read articles about Elizabeth Glazebrook and her wealthy, influential family in the Arizona newspapers and house-and-garden magazines, she would have recognized her the moment she walked through the door.

  It certainly wasn’t because there was much in the way of family resemblance, Clare thought. At five foot three and a half, she was accustomed to having to look up, not only to most men but to many women as well. She was aware that, like Napoleon, she sometimes tended to over-compensate.

  Friends and those who were fond of her called her feisty. Those who were not friends tended to go for other descriptors: difficult, stubborn, assertive and bossy. On occasion the words “bitch” and “ballbuster” had been used, often by men who had discovered the hard way that she was not nearly as easy to get into bed as they had assumed.

  Elizabeth was her polar opposite: tall and willowy with a cloud of honey-brown, shoulder-length hair brightened by the desert sun and the discreet touch of a very expensive salon. Her features had a lovely, patrician symmetry that gave her an elegant profile.

  But what one noticed most of all about Elizabeth was her style. Her half sister did not have merely good taste in clothes, jewelry and accessories, Clare thought, she had exquisite taste. She knew the precise colors to wear to enhance her natural good looks, and she had an unerring eye when it came to detail.

  Until her recent marriage to Brad McAllister, Elizabeth had been one of the most successful interior designers in the Southwest. Things had changed dramatically in the past few months. The once thriving business had fallen apart.

  Elizabeth hesitated briefly in the doorway of the café, searching the small crowd. Clare started to raise a hand to get her attention. There was no reason why Elizabeth should recognize her. After all, she had never had her work featured in glossy, high-end magazines and she’d certainly never had her wedding photographed for the society pages of a newspaper. She’d never had a wedding. But that was another issue.

  To her amazement, Elizabeth stopped scanning the room the instant she noticed Clare sitting in the corner. She started through the maze of tables.

  My sister, Clare thought. She knows me, just as I would have known her, even if I had never seen a photograph.

  When Elizabeth drew closer Clare saw the barely veiled terror shimmering in her hazel eyes.

  “Thank God you came,” Elizabeth whispered. The beautifully crafted leather handbag she carried shook a little in her tightly clutched fingers.

  Clare’s anxiety and uncertainty vanished in a heartbeat. She was on her feet, hugging Elizabeth as if they had known each other all their lives.

  “It’s all right,” she said. “It’s going to be okay.”

  “No, it’s not,” Elizabeth whispered, tears drowning the words. “He’s going to kill me. No one believes me. They think I’m crazy. They all say he’s the perfect husband.”

  “I believe you,” Clare said.

  Chapter One

  Jake Salter was standing in the shadows at the far end of the long veranda, all his senses—normal and paranormal—open to the desert night, when he felt the hair stir on the nape of his neck. It was the first warning he had that something was about to put his entire, careful
ly laid strategy in jeopardy.

  The hunter in him knew better than to ignore the disturbing sensation.

  The ominous indicator of disaster took the shape of a small, nondescript compact car turning into the crowded driveway of the big Glazebrook house.

  Something wicked this way comes. Or something very, very interesting. In his experience, the two often went together.

  “It looks like we have a late arrival,” Myra Glazebrook said. “I can’t imagine who it is. I’m sure that everyone who was invited tonight is already here or sent regrets.”

  Jake watched the little compact crawl slowly forward. The driver was searching for a parking place amid the array of expensive sedans, heavy SUVs and limos that littered the drive. Like a rabbit approaching a desert watering hole that had already attracted a lot of mountain lions.

  Good luck, Jake thought.

  There was no space left in the wide, circular court that fronted the big house. The Glazebrooks were entertaining this evening. Archer and Myra Glazebrook called their annual July cocktail gala the Desert Rats Party. This evening, everyone who was anyone in the affluent community of Stone Canyon, Arizona, who had not fled the merciless summer heat for cooler climes was here.

  “Must be someone from the caterer’s staff,” Myra said. She watched the compact with growing disapproval.

  The little car finished one complete circle of the drive without finding a place to alight. Undaunted, it scurried around for a second attempt.

  Myra’s jaw firmed. “The caterer’s people were told to park at the back of the house. They’re not supposed to take up space in front. That’s for the guests.”

  “Maybe this particular member of the staff didn’t get the word,” Jake said.

  The compact was sweeping toward them again, headlights bouncing off the gleaming fenders of the larger vehicles. Jake was sure now that the driver was not going to give up.

  “Sooner or later he’s going to realize that there is no room left in the drive,” Myra said. “He’ll have to go around to the back.”

  Don’t bet on it, Jake thought. There was something very determined about the manner in which the driver was searching for a parking space.

  The compact abruptly came to a defiant halt directly behind a sleek silver-gray BMW.

  Out of all the cars here tonight, you had to pick that one to block, Jake thought. What are the odds?